Vodafone Spain Tests 20Mbps Mobile Download Speeds

Following on from recent trials in Portugal, Vodafone says that it has now tested a HSPA+ mobile broadband connection that delivers maximum download speeds in excess of 20 Mbps in a test environment in Spain.

Vodafone achieved one of the fastest 3G data connections currently possible during field trials of the HSPA+ MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology on Vodafone Spain's network in southern Spain and Madrid city centre. The trials were carried out using technology supplied by Ericsson, Huawei and Qualcomm.

MIMO technology effectively uses two antennas in both the handset and the base station to split the radio signal into two separate streams enhancing network capacity as well as the user experience even in dense urban environments.

"Breaking the 20Mbps peak speed barrier in tests through HSPA+ MIMO is yet another key milestone in the evolution of 3G Mobile Broadband technology and raises the prospect of higher network performance for our customers in selected hotspots," said Andy MacLeod, Global Networks Director of Vodafone. "These test results mean that we will be able to derive even more value from our existing 3G infrastructure while raising the quality of service for our customers."

HSPA+ technology is the next evolutionary step in the (3G) HSPA roadmap. It significantly enhances performance through the use of a more advanced modulation technique called 64QAM as well as through the use of multiple antennas on both base stations and data devices (MIMO).

Vodafone is now looking at advancing the HSPA+ roadmap still further through investigating Dual Carrier-HSPA, which uses the aggregation of two adjacent radio channels to further boost download speeds.

Posted to the site on 16th February 2009